Hip Soul Chic goes to the movies

Single-woman-goes-after-married-man-meets-her-match-and-her-maker plot line, circa 2009; and so the story goes for new release Obsessed—starring Idris Elba, Beyonce Knowles and Ali Larter, in theaters nationwide.

So, my expectations were not very high as I headed to the theater on preview night. I remember the thrill and novelty of the now classic, Fatal Attraction (having seen it opening night, neck craned from the front row of a hot and crowded theater); The roommate background check frenzy that Single White Female caused; And the nanny cam-keep-an-eye-on-your -man stir The Hand That Rocks The Cradle whipped up. These movies are a tough act to follow, as chick flicks go. But here we have a twist: the race card (white woman after married Black man), and otherwise sweet and seemingly passive Beyonce, thrust into a “kick-ass” role. Never mind, that the screening was in Harlem at the Magic Johnson Theater, where the audience would be largely female, anti white-girl-dating-a-brotha comprised, and Beyonce loving. All those factors were not going to sway me. My mind was made up. I was not going to be thrilled or impressed.

Plopped down, some 6 rows back from the front (this time), sandwiched between a bold, yet somewhat sheepish young Black man and his white date, two older Black gentlemen, and some folks who fancy Idris Elba (apparently both sexes fancy him, could be his swagger, tight body or Wire role, take your pick!)

Credits roll, and so our story begins--slowly and somewhat awkwardly, with little warning and character development, back-story and the like. Derek Charles (Idris Elba), is happily married (or so it would seem), has a young boy (who was oddly quiet and lifeless), a great job and an attractive, new, eager to please the boss and somewhat off her rocker temp. His wife, Sharon (Beyonce) has her suspicions after meeting her, but not for obvious reasons. She was once the temp and Derek hit on her. Jealousy and suspicion rears its ugly head and not, as one would assume, sista sixth sense when it comes to our men and someone slinking around him. Her fear was that of any man or woman who may wonder about those people you spend the better part of your day with. All this, I might add, I gathered not from the depth of plot development, but from my own theories about love, life and the dynamics of relationships.
And like most men, Derek doesn’t see that Temp Girl (as she calls herself) has a wild eye for him, until he’s had one too many at the employees only Christmas party, and our somewhat aggressive seductress follows him into the restroom, with mistletoe in tow for some extra holiday cheer. And so the obsession begins.

I won’t spoil it for you, but I will say that Beyonce delivers some of the best lines of the movie and puts new meaning to her song “Sound The Alarm”, although her acting is as flat as that southern drawl she fights to hide.

The producers and director, may welcome the obvious comparisons to Fatal Attraction, and seemingly borrowed from the film, but they could have taken a page from the script, in particular the one that required depth of character, range and raw emotion, timing, surprise, production design, acting skill and nail biting suspense. They failed to draw you in until the very end, and that does not a thriller make. Although you root for Beyonce’s character toward the end, you don’t have much compassion for her to begin with. Idris’ character is flat, and his actions and motives not so plausible. He puts himself in jeopardy more than he is the victim of tainted love. I found myself wanting to see more of Ali Larter’s villainous character, Lisa; her bad-girl- gone-over-the-edge portrayal of the fixated seductress was worth the price of (free) admission. She added excitement to an otherwise predictable, and less than thrilling, 90 minutes.

Go see it, if you’re longing for a chick flick and you simply want to support Black filmmakers. But my bet would be on renting Fatal Attraction and a Sunday spent on a Lifetime channel movie marathon. Call me crazy.